Luxury Cars
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Cape Town, South Africa - The South African landscape is unusually parched. Late January is midsummer here, and the country is in the throes of a drought that threatens the water supply. Day Zero is April 16, about a month before the rainy season that could stave off this water crisis. It's an impending problem for a beautiful country still transforming from the oppression of Apartheid to a more equal society. I can't help but feel guilty behind the wheel of the 2019 Audi A7, a luxury car that represents a transformation of its own. It started when Audi set out to turn the A6 sedan into a...
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Polestar 1 production totals may increase beyond 1,500Following Polestar's split from Volvo to become a standalone brand, the division showed its first production model: the Polestar 1. At its debut, the brand said it planned for just 500 units a year over a three-year period. But with mounting demand, Polestar is reportedly looking into increasing...
Sean Szymkowski -
2018 Lexus RX 450hL arrives with $51,615 starting priceLexus was a little late to the 3-row crossover SUV party as the automaker only filled the gap last November when it rolled out the 2018 RX L, essentially a stretched version of the mid-size RX crossover with two additional seats. So far Lexus has only shown the vehicle in RX 350L guise, but on...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Polestar 2 coming in 2019 followed by Polestar 3 in 2022Volvo last October spun off its Polestar performance arm into a standalone brand for high-performance electric cars and revealed the first model in the form of the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1. But Polestar isn’t taking the slow road to success. The brand is already constructing its own plant in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Trademark filings indicate AMG will revive its “73” seriesThere was a time when the biggest and baddest AMG you could buy came with a 7.3-liter V-12 and a “73” badge on its trunk lid. The car was the SL73, and it was sold in the 1990s in both coupe and convertible forms. Its engine, which delivered 525 horsepower, would eventually be picked by...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
9 things you need to know about the 2018 Lincoln NavigatorThe Lincoln Navigator was once the gold standard for luxury SUVs, but it faded into history as time—not to mention limited investment from parent company Ford in its luxury brand—marched on. For 2018, the Navigator has been reinvented with the lofty goal of once again becoming the...
Joel Feder -
Of all the great pieces of forbidden automotive fruit, the Audi RS 6 Avant sits at the top of my own personal want list. Audi loves fast wagons, and the RS 6 is king of them all. Now there's a brand-new top-spec version set to roll out before a new A6 arrives for 2019. Audi has teamed up with one of its race teams, Abt Sportline, to produce a low-volume 700-horsepower RS 6 Avant. And no, this one isn't coming here either. Abt Sportline is the race team handling the electrified effort of Audi motorsport. It keeps the Formula E cars moving. In a bit of a change of pace, Abt has applied its...
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Mercedes-AMG GT sedan sheds camo for revealing red wrapMercedes-AMG engineers have let down their guard regarding the tuner's new standalone sedan. The latest prototypes have shed the heavy camouflage gear of earlier testers in favor of a revealing red wrap. These photos, more of which you can view at the Facebook page Salento V12, shows us the car's...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2020 BMW X5 M spy shots and videoA new generation of the BMW X5 is just around the corner, and once again there will be a high-performance model developed by the M division. A prototype for the high-performance model, the X5 M, has been spotted once again. It features the large intakes typical of an M car, as well as lowered...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2018 Jaguar E-Pace first drive review: small crossover with big ideasThe afternoon sun in Corsica melts into the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace’s sumptuous lines. The E-Pace needs a lot of light. After all, it’s instantly familiar. Its shapes raid Jaguar’s closet and wrap them around a compact crossover—none of this is a bad idea. The running gear has a...
Aaron Cole -
Time flies: 10th anniversary editions of Lexus RC F, GS F coming this summerThe "F" doesn't stand for "fast," but that's sure how it feels. This year, 10 years after Lexus launched its performance sub-brand with the Lexus IS F, the automaker is celebrating the anniversary of the F brand, named after the Fuji Speedway in Japan, where much of the development takes place...
Aaron Cole -
2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class aims higher for compact luxury carsMercedes-Benz has new ideas for the compact-luxury car class, and the 2018 A-Class is the first indication. On Friday, the luxury brand unveiled the new A-Class hatchback with a sleeker design, and an interior fitted with the brand's new MBUX infotainment system. The A-Class has grown up, and it's...
Sean Szymkowski -
The Infiniti brand is difficult to pin down. Its struggle to introduce a cohesive brand identity and driving character and hide Nissan underpinnings overshadows impressive interior materials and exterior aesthetics. Few premium brands have had to prove their credentials so often. With the 2019 Infiniti QX50, the questions and concerns can stop: Infiniti has built a premium product through and through. Riding on a brand-specific platform, featuring what's arguably the most advanced gas-only engine on the planet, and blessed with a class-leading cabin, the 2019 QX50 is the culmination of a...
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2020 Cadillac CT5 spy shotsBehold the first spy shots of Cadillac's CT5, the closest embodiment of the brand's stunning Escala concept we're likely to see. First confirmed by Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen last summer, the CT5 is a mid-size offering that will replace the ATS and CTS when it lands in showrooms in 2019...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Patient fan will take home a Mercedes-AMG C43 during Super Bowl 52Last-person-standing contests are nothing new, but Mercedes-Benz is bringing the concept into the 21st century. During Sunday's Super Bowl 52, one lucky and very patient fan will win a Mercedes-AMG C43—and all they have to do is keep their finger on their smartphone. It sounds easy, but it...
Sean Szymkowski -
Jaguar I-Pace set for 2018 Geneva auto show debutJaguar's I-Pace electric SUV will be revealed to the world in production trim on March 1. The reveal will take place online ahead of a formal debut on March 6 at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. The I-Pace was first previewed in concept form in 2016. Prototypes have been testing on public...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2019 DS 3 Crossback spy shotsThe next vehicle to join the growing lineup of DS has been spotted testing for the first time. The vehicle is a subcompact crossover SUV related to the C3 Aircross from sister brand Citroen, and will likely be known as the DS 3 Crossback when it reaches showrooms sometime next year. DS is the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW mulls X2 ConvertibleThe abject failure of Nissan's Murano CrossCabriolet, pulled from the market after just four years, didn't deter Land Rover from attempting its own convertible SUV in the form of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible. The vehicle has managed to generate some positive buzz for Land Rover since it's...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Genesis is working hard to distinguish itself as more than just the luxury arm of Hyundai. It wants to be seen as a standalone brand. Genesis started out life as a luxurious mid-size sedan sold by Hyundai, but was spun off in 2016 to become its own brand. Genesis is now looking to further distance itself from the Hyundai equation by launching its own dealer network. Executives on Friday notified those in the dealership business of forthcoming opportunities to start a dedicated Genesis dealership. Hyundai dealerships already selling Genesis models will be given the first opportunity to apply...
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East Coast Defender looks back on the SUV's past with Project TukiEast Coast Defender will happily build customers an original Land Rover Defender with a modern twist, but for those who seek something with a little more heritage, Project Tuki may be the answer. The Florida-based company revealed the heritage-inspired SUV this past Wednesday, and it boasts a few...
Sean Szymkowski -
AMG's SL73 nameplate to return as 805-hp hybrid?The next-generation Mercedes-Benz SL is expected to evolve into a larger, more luxurious grand tourer with 2+2 seating and a soft-top roof—and replace the S-Class Coupe in the process. Despite this move into GT territory, the car should be sportier than the current model due to the adoption...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
MSO draws on 570S GT4 racer, heritage colors for latest bespoke carsMcLaren's personalization department MSO has produced a run of bespoke 570S sports cars. Unveiled on Thursday, the cars draw their inspiration from the racing version of the 570S, the 570S GT4, though they're all fully street legal. Just 10 examples are destined for production and each will wear a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lexus Super Bowl 52 spot stars 2018 LS 500 and "Black Panther" castLexus will return to the Super Bowl on February 4 with a brand new advertisement featuring the 2018 LS 500 F Sport and plenty of help from the "Black Panther" cast. It's no coincidence T'Challa, better known as the Black Panther, will help highlight the new LS 500. The protagonist in the latest...
Sean Szymkowski -
Audi confirms RS 5 Sportback for US and hints at "secret" RS model forthcomingThose seeking the Audi RS 7's handsome looks at a lower cost, the four-ringed brand has something forthcoming. In a video interview with Roadshow, Audi of America President Scott Keogh confirmed the RS 5 Sportback will launch in the United States. Not only that, but there's a "secret" RS model in...
Sean Szymkowski